Menu

Models

Vogue’s latest bra shoot features five gorgeous plus-sized models. Shot by Cass Bird, the editorial titled“Give me a D! Give me an F!” Because Gorgeous Bras Come in All Shapes and Sizes” features well-known models Ashley Graham, Inga Eiriksdottir and Maquita Pring. Both high fashion and shopping mall brands are featured in the shoot, making the bras modeled accessible to all women. Most notably, high fashion brand L’Agent by Agent Provocateur is featured in the shoot. In the editorial, the models discuss how they have felt purchasing lingerie over the years, and how they feel about all different types of bras.

This come at a time when the fashion industry is facing changes in the definition of plus size models. With the array of criticism that the industry is receiving over-photoshopped image and the health of sample-sized models, this shoot is refreshing.

The best part of the whole shoot is that Vogue makes no reference to the women’s size, and instead focuses on the beauty of the clothes, just like they would if sample-sized women were used in the shoot. Vogue states, “when it comes to gorgeous undergarments, there is no such thing as cutting corners—and if the cup fits, why not make sure it’s pretty?” By treating these women like they would their normal models, Vogue is setting an important precedent. They are saying that all women are beautiful and deserve to be treated the same way. That is a concept that the rest of the fashion industry needs to grasp.

Instead of choosing a typical model for the newest fall ad campaign, Diesel has chosen to scour the internet and follow word of mouth to discover some of the most unique models. Part of the their new “Diesel Reboot” campaign, directed by Nicola Formichetti, the company bypassed the use of regular models, instead choosing to make a statement by photographing women who are not “stereotypically beautiful”.

“I wanted to find people who reflected the diversity of the creative community today and not just the typical model. I wanted the campaign to showcase a variety of characters, people who are beautiful in their own unique way,” Formichetti told Women’s Wear Daily.

Women of all occupations, shapes, sizes and colors were used. Pink hair, blue hair, tall, skinny, short– it didn’t matter. All were excepted and photographed just as any other model would be.

Michelle Calderon, a 22-year-old graffiti artist, is one of the new faces of the campaignPhoto Courtesy of Buzzfeed.com

While typical ad campaigns often feature celebrities, the only big-names Diesel commissioned for this campaign were Loulou Robert, Omahyra Mota and Casey Legler, the former Olympic swimmer who broke gender barriers as a woman being contracted as a male model.

Casey Legler, one of the new faces for DieselPhoto Courtesy of Buzzfeed.com

Formichetti explained the photos are meant to merge classic portraiture with the sensibilities of the current generation of digital influencers. “It was less about capturing fashion and more about getting an insight into these people’s souls. No one captures people better than Inez and Vinoodh. They construct a photo with so much care and compassion to always pay tribute to the subject. Personally, it was a pleasure to work with them because when I was starting out they were my heroes,” he told WWD.

The ads debuted in Vogue’s September issue, a wonderful contrast to the more typical ad’s in the magazine. As fashion moves forward, it is clear that innovative thinkers are pushing a much more unique viewpoint– the age of the skinny supermodels may be fading. Instead, its clear that women wish to see more the population represented in fashion magazine. It’s not to isolate or chastise those with a naturally slender build, instead it is an attempt to foster acceptance of all body types. No one should be ashamed of who they are, and what the look like. With powerful adverts like these in print, hopefully more women are inspired to take pride in their image.

Like this:

British Vogue was the first glossy magazine to agree to Equity’s “10-point Code of Conduct for the treatment of Models during photo shoots in studios and on location”. Some wonderful provisions of the code are stated below:

1. Working Hours and Break: “A working day shall consist of a maximum work period of ten hours Monday to Sunday…It is expected that the Model shall not be required to work more than five consecutive hours without a break of sufficient length…and that within a four hour working period at least one short break of no less than 15 minutes will be provided.

2. Respect and Dignity: The Model will be treated with respect and professionalism and all necessary steps will be taken to ensure that the safety, health, well being and dignity of the Model is protected and maintained at all times. No one will ask or impose upon the Model any action or activity which is dangerous, degrading, unprofessional or demeaning to the Mode.

3. Change of Appearance: The Model cannot be required to make permanent or long lasting changed to their appearance during a photo shoot, for example by cutting hair, unless such change is agreed by the Model at the time the photo shoot takes place.

4. Nudity/Semi Nudity: The general nature of the photo shoot will be explained in advance to the Model and their agent before the contract is agreed and any nudity/semi-nudity will be personally approved by the Model before the shoot takes place.

5. Changing area/Bathroom facilities: A private changing area will be provided for the Models to use. The models will have access to adequate bathroom facilities including hot water in studios and on location wherever it is reasonably practicable to do so.

6. Insurance and prompt payment: During the contract period the Model must be provided with appropriate insurance cover adequate to cover all liabilities and risks. These must include adequate cancellation insurance, public liability insurance, Employer’s Liability insurance, travel insurance…and any other necessary insurance. At the end of the contract period the Model will be paid promptly and in any even in accordance with the agreed payment terms.

7. Use of Models under 16 years of Age: Models under 16 years of age will not be used in photo shoots representing adult models. If a model is used who is under 16 years of age, there will be no nudity or semi-nudity required. The model will be accompanied throughout the photo shoot by a Chaperone that has a CRB clearance or parent. Any work will be in accordance with, where relevant an applicable with the Statutory Regulations that apply to Child Entertainers and Models.

There are 3 more requirements regarding meals, travel and transport and temperature/working conditions.

The fact that British Vogue signed the resolution is amazing. Kudos to them for being the first to take a step that needed to be taken a long, long time ago. Models are not treated with the same basic human respect that is given to others with different careers. The fact that it takes a signed resolution to ensure that models are treated with “respect and professionalism” is ridiculous. Every HUMAN regardless of their profession should be treated with “respect and professionalism”. If someone at a Fortune 500 company was not treated with “respect and professionalism” they would be able to voice their complaint and make a change within the company. If a Model voices the same complaint, she/he would most likely be fired. These provisions are necessary! It is outrageous that this needed to be signed to for a model to be alerted of and approve “any nudity/semi-nudity…before the shoot takes place”. Once they have completed their job, they should be paid. With this contract, any model who works for British Vogue will not have to worry about whether or not they will get payment. Like any other employee, they will get paid on time and respectfully.

The clause that was added to protect child models is equally as wonderful. These models deserve the same respect and accommodations given to child actors or singers.

Hopefully other glossy’s will follow British Vogue’s lead and thus give all models a safe and productive work environment. This resolution is a step in the right direction and British Vogue deserves applause for implementing it.

Models and health experts alike came out on February 26, 2013 as part of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week to discuss the many problems in the fashion industry regarding body image and weight. Many models and experts spoke, including Crystal Renn and Amy Lemons.

At this years New York Fashion week, models were offered 50% off juice at Organic Avenue. While the company sells more than just juice, many felt that they were promoting a liquid-only diet for models.

Crystal Renn on the cover of her memoir, in which she discusses her struggle with body image and anorexia.Courtesy of: foxnews.com

“When you’ve got an industry where you know there’s an occupational hazard” — meaning, the pressure to maintain a very low weight — “put that together with a fad diet, and real commercial interest regarding these juice cleanses, and we really have double reason to worry,” said Dr. Evelyn Attia, director of the Center for Eating Disorders at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

Sara Ziff, founder of The Model Alliance, a labor organization that fights for better working conditions for models, cited a study which said that 64% of models had been asked to lose weight by their agencies, and that “a significant number lost weight by going on these juice cleanses.”

The industry standard of a size zero hasn’t changed much over the past decade. We live in a world where people like Crystal Renn and Kate Upton are considered to be plus-size models. A size zero is not realistic or healthy for most models and isn’t healthy for teen’s body images either. Models that look healthy—that are healthy are the ones that should be featured in editorials, on billboards and magazine covers, walking the runway. They shouldn’t be forced to loose weight by going on a liquid diet and the girls looking at their pictures in a magazine shouldn’t feel that they need to force themselves to drink juice for 30-days straight. Renn argued designers should work with a size 8 sample instead of a size 0 or 2. “By having a size 8 sample, you are giving freedom to a designer,” she said. If the standard is a size 8, “most of the models are going to be size 6s and 8s, and you could have 10s, and if a really amazing model walked in who was a size 0, you could tailor the dress to fit her.”

Renn understands the battle with body image more than anyone– she struggled with anorexia and her body image.

“I have made it my life to speak about feeling completely beautiful no matter what size you are,” she says.

While Renn told CBS News that “has no objection to retouching to smooth skin and clothing in glamor shots.” She believes that it only becomes a problem when “the retouching is so extensive that it promotes an unrealistic – and in the case of anorexia-prone young women, dangerously unrealistic – image of women’s bodies”.

As a victim of Photoshop before, she is pressing for healthier, happier and heavier models in campaign shoots and magazines.

Renn also reminds everyone “modeling is about beauty, but it’s also an energy,” Renn said. “That’s not a size.”